The Sun. — London, England, 1809-09-11 00:00:00

COVENT GARDE'. THEATRE. The following' description is given of the interior of this magnificent new. edifice . The pit is very spacious, and the two galleries are comparatively small, there not being accommoda tion in the upper for more than 150 or 209 persons. The upper gallery is di% ided into five compartments, and may be tiibs considered a tier of five boxes, with a separate door at the back to each ; these doors open into a spacious lobby, one side of which is the back of the gallery,•and the other the exterior wplr of the Theatre, with the windows into the street. The lobby to the middle gallery. .beneath is similarly si 7 - - waled. One great advantage attends this construc tion : in summer, the doors of the.galleries and the Windows of thelobbies being left open, the audience 16 those parts cannot be oppressed by the heat, as in the turner Theatre. Under the gallery is a row of private boxes, constituting the third tier., Tliey consist of ' 6 in number, with a private room behind each. access-to these boxes is by a beautiful stairecie, exclusively appropriated to them, and not connected with any other part of the house, with also a lobby, e xclusively--spacious and Magnificent in the extreme. The, carpetting , .was laid down in these boxes, on Saturday last; but the furniture of each; 'and also of the adjoining room, will be ac-, cording to the taste of the several occupants, among whom' are some of the! Royal Dukes, and the lead ing persons of rank and_ fashion in the country. Th e lower boxes appear Id be upon the same plan of those in the old house. There i an additional seat each box will thus hold twelve persons, bring three more than in the old house. The ;rand stair-case, from Bow-street, to the boxes, is most superb, and, in extent, greatly exceeds that of the Opera- House. The pit is formed on a new constru6liona In the Old Theatre many seats in the centre frequently re mained unoccupied, whilst the sides appeared crowded.' This was occasioned,by the endeavours of persons to keep seas in the middle, and the diffi culty which occurred in getting through the body of people who sat next the doors. A passage is now left open t hrough the middle, like that of the . gal= lery of the Opera. The front of - the Stage is surmount e d w ith t h e ,Roy - al Arms, and the pillars at the sides are plain an d e lega n t. This is the cli arat t er i st i c S ty l e o f t h e whole house. The artist appears to have studied the simpler munditiis ; and never did artist more Corn.. pletely realize the principle. An elegant simplicity, equally remote from glare and glitter, on the one side, and crudity and coldness, on the other, prevails, throughout. The fronts of the boxes are of a colour •between bronze and stone, with a Chinese flower in continuation between the tiers, and parsethe with stars. There are no mirrors or refleaors attached to the supporters, between the tiers ; and the house is lighted by glass chandeliers, bidding lamps lighted with - oil. They are of a very peculiar Construction, and the effect is said to be very brilliant. There is not a point of the house, before the cur= tain, that does not command a complete view of the stage ; nor a point in which a word distinaly spoken on the stage is not perfealy audible to the remotest extremity. The stage is also adapted, it: a peculiar degree, for the display of scenic procession, having extraordinary depth in the retr, as also large spaces at the sides, to an extent greatly exceeding those of the late Theatre. The artist hai been also particularly attentive to the comfort and accommodation of the performers. The Gentlemen's dressing-rooms are on one side, and those of the Ladies on the other. There are three green-rooms, all of them on the side of Bow,. street. The ward-robe room is spacious and su perb ; in the centre is a sqbare table,, of immense • size—the surface mahogany, highly polished ; the presses which line the room are in wainscot, finish ed with the most exquiste taste. In the con stru6tion of this splendid edifice, the calamitous fate of the late two great winter theatres has not been forgotten. Every means of safety against fire or other accident, that ingenuity could de vise, has, been' adopted. At all convenient in . tervals, are strong party walls, with iron doors by which, if a fire were to break out, it would be confined within that particular compartment, and be prevented from spreading through the house. The fire-places are also made with the grates turn ing upon a pivot, by which means the front can be moved round to the back, and the fire, is thus ex tinguished,, without the possibility• of accident.— Water-pipes are also insinuated into every part of the house, through which they are - spread, - -like veins through the human body. Great brass cocks, which, when turned, would poUr the contents into ti'e house, present themselves to the eye, in the lobbies, and other open places. The flight of stairs to the upper gallery consists of 120 steps, and the .ournber of bricks laid down, in seven months, amounted to seven millions; a tircumslance which may afford an idea of the magnitude of the edifice, and the celerity with which it has been built. The materials are of the best.quality, and the building is most substantial and secure. Last' week its strength was tried by immense leaden weights, placed on the several tiers, greatly exceeding the weight of the most crowded audience that.could be compressed into the house, and yet the building did not, in any point, give way, i n t h e s li g h test d egree poss ibly ptrcept7ble. This experiment \vas . , totally useless t o any ptrson competent to form an opinion of the work. To weak and timid people, it may, how er, be satisfaetory. past We Lieutenant-General England reviewed the Ist Somerset Militia, at Berry-head, commanded by Major JOLLIITE The General expressed his en tire approbation of - the soldier-like appearance and discipline of the Regiment. The Duke of Bedford has presented a Gentleman at Birmingham with .the premium of 20 guineas, for an improved plan of erecting buildings, by the introduttion of cas:-iron roofs and floors, which im provement was considered by the Agricultural Meet ing at Woburn, to be of great utility, and national . importance.. - CORN EXCHANGE, SEPT.: 11.—The arrivals of Wheat this day make but a short supply, and sales are readily etExted at an advance of about 3s, and 4s. 4s. per loaner ; Barley and Malt in short supply, and dearer ; Pease and Beans of the two kinds likewise ; there are short supplies of Oats, and this article is also dearer ; Flour ss. per sack higher ; tine Ame lean 54:. to 58s. per barrel. • From the LONDON GAZETTE, Sept. g, i8o9: Downing-street, qept. 7, 1809. DiSpatChes, of which the following are Copies and Extracts, were this day received at the 'Otfice of Viscount Castlereagh, one of his Majesty's Principal . Secretaries of State, from Lieutenant-Geo. Viscount Wellington, K. B. ivlY LORD, , Truxillo, Aug. 2,1, tBc9. I wrote some days ago a letter to the French Commander in Chief, which I sent to him by Lieu tenant-Colonel Walters, to request his care and at tention to the wounded Officers and soldiers of the British army, who had fallen into his hands, in re turn. for the care and attention which 1 IL-td paid to the French Officers and soldiers . WhO had fallen into my hands at .dirfeient times ; and that he would, allow money. to be sent to the Officers ; and that Officers, who should not be deemed prisoners of war, might be sent to superintend and lake care of the soldier:;, till they should recover from their wounds, when the Officers should be sent to join the British army. • I received a very 661 answer from Marshal IMur tier, promising that every care should be taken, and every attention paid to the British Officers and sol diers who wete wounded ; but stating, that he could not answer upon the other demands contained in my letter, having been obliged• to refer them to the COM' manderin Chief. Since the receipt of this letter, Mr. Dillon, the Assistant-Commissary, has arrived from ralavera, having been taken prisoner ne.ir Cevolla on the 27th of Juiy, previous to the action, and having been al lowed to con: away. He reports that the British Officers and soldiers who are wounded, are doing remarkably_ well ; and are well fed and taken care of; iudeed.he says,pre-; ferabiy to the French troops. •- propose to send Carmel Walters with another flag of truce to-morrow morning, and a letter to the Commander iu Chief of the French army, request ing that a sum of money which I shall send, may be given to the Officers; and I shall endeavour to esta blish a cartel 01 exchange as soon as possible. I have the honour to be, ARTHUR WELLESLEY. Lord Viscoitnt Castlereagh, &c. &c. &c. MY LORD; Truxillo, Aug. 2r, 1809. , When I maiched` from Talavera on the 3LI in stant, with a view to oppose the French corps which we had heard had passed through the Puerte de Banos, and had arrived at Plasencia, Sir Robert Wilson was detached upon the left of the army, towards Esca lona and before I marched on that morning, lfput him in communication with the Spanish General Cuesta, who; it had been settled, was to remain at Talavera. I understood that General Cuesta put• Sir Robert in communication withhis advanced guard, which retired from Talavera on the night of the 4th. Sir Robert Wilson,. however, did not arrive at Valaca till the night of the 4th, having made. a long March through the mountains : and as he was thin six leagues from the bridge of Arso Bispo, and had to cross the high road hum Oropesa to Talavera, of which lilt cuelny was in possession, he conceived that he was too late to retiie to Arzo Bispo, and he determined to wove by Venta St. Julien and Cent i neiln towards the Tietar, and across thit river to wards the n:ountains ti hick separate Cas,tde from Est rernadora. _ Some of Sir • Robert Wilson's dispatches having missed me, 1 am nut aware by which of the passes he went .through the mountains, but I believe by Tornavacas. He arrived, however, at Banos on the I I pi, and on the 12th was attacked and defeated by the French corps of Marshal Ney, which, With that of Soult, returned to Piasencia on the 9th, iOth, anti 11th, that of Ney having since gone on towards Sa lamanca. I inclose Sir Robert Wilson's 'account of the action. He has been very active, intelligent, and useful in the command of the Portuguese and Spanish corps with which he was detached from this army. Before the battle of the 28th of July, he had pushed his parties almost to the gates of Madrid, with which city he was in communication; and, he would have been in Madrid, if I hai nut'thought it proper to call him in, in expectation of general aaion which took place on the 24„ivot r jrily.' He afterwards alarmed the enemy on the right of his army ; and throughout the service, skewed himself to be an active and intelligent, partizan, yell ac quainted with the country in which he was acting, and possessing the confidence of the troops whicn he commanded. Being persuaded that his retreat was not open by Arzo Bispo, he acted right _in taking the, road he did, with which he was well . acqUainted,l and al though unsuccesful in the action which he fought, (which may be well accounted for,,.b . y the superior numbers and description of the enemy's troop4',, ale attin, in my opinion, does him gieat credit. • 1. have tie honour to:ne, &c. (Signed) AR ria.un WELLESLEY. SIR, Miranda de Castenar, Aug. 13, 18:9. I have the honour to acquaint you, that I was on march yesterday morning on the road of Grenadelia from Aldea Neuva, to restore iny cumniunication with the allied army, when a peasant assured us, that a considerable quantity of dust v‘ hich we perceived in the road of Plasencta, proceeded from the march of a body of the enemy. - I immediately returned and took post in front of Banus, with my pickets in advance of Aldea Neuva selecting such points for a defence as the exigency di, the time permitted. The enemy's cavalry advanced on the high road, and drove back my small cavally posts ; but a picket of Spanish infantry, which L had con cealed, poured in upon the cavalry a steady and well direCted tire, that killed and wounded many . of them. The two hundred Spanish infantry in advance of Aldea Neuva, continued, under the direction of Colonel Grant and their officers, to maintain their ground most gallantly, until the enemy's cavalry and Chasseurs a Coeval, in considerable bodies, ap peared on both flanks, when they were / obliged to retreat. The enetny's Chasseurs a Cheval and Cavalty ad vanced in great numbers in every direction, and pushed to cut off the legion posted between Aldea Neuva and Banos; but, by the steady conduct of (Ai certr:-And' nien, - 'the erienir eon d - only advance gr . :On:ldly, and with a very ievere loss Eli the corn- Manding fire thrown on them. - The Merida - ()Allanon; however, having given way on the right, the 'road was laid . apen,, which cut be;.tntl our po,ition, and I was obliged to order a j rvir e i t 'on the heights above Banos, when I was again necessit a ted to detach a corps, in order to scour" the roads' of NlOnte Maj or, by which I saw the enemy dire ling a' column, and which road turned altogether the Puerto de Banos, a league in our rear. At this .fame, : Don Carlos Marquis de Estragne ctimelbp with his battalion of' light infantry, and in the niost gallant manner.; took post along the heights commanding the toad of 'Banos, which enabled me to send some of the Merida battalion on the Moun tain otr our left commanding the main road, and which the enemy had, tried to ascend. The battalion of light . infantry, the detachment of the legion on its right continued, notwithstand ing the enemy's fire of artillery and musketry, to maintain their ground; but, at six o'clock in the evening, thiee columns of the enemy mounted the height on our lett, gained it, and poured such a fire on the troops below, that longer defence was imprac ticable, and the whole was obliged to retire on the mountains on our left, leaving - open the 'main road, along which 'a considerable column of cavalry lin-- mediately poured. , The battaliOn of Seville had been left at Bejar with orders to follow me next day, but when .was riblAgect- to" return, and the aetion - connitenced, I ordered it to Puerto. Banos, to watch the Monte 'Major toad and 'the heights in the _ rear of our left. „, When the enemy's cavalry came near , an Omer and some dragoons called out to the commanding Officer to surrender,,but a volley killed hinrand his party, and then the battalion proceeded to mount the heights', in which movernent it was attacked and surrounded by tr column of cavalry and a column of infantry, but cut its way and cleared itself, • ing a great many 'of the enemy, especially of his cavalry. The enemy is now passing to Salamanca i tvith.great expedition ; I lament that I could no longer arrest his progress, but, when the enormous superiority of the enemy's force is considered, and that We had to artillery - , and that the Puerto de.Banos on the Estre madura side, is not a pass of such strength as ou.the., sidi, l of Castile, especially without gun's, I hope that a resiitance for.nine hours, which must have cost' the•enemy a great many men, will not be deemed inadequate to our means. I have to acknowledge the services rendered me on this occasion by Colonel.. Grant, Major Reiman, Don Fertnen Marquis, -Adjutant-Major of the Dra goons of Captain Charles and Mr. Bolman ; and to ,express the greatest approbation of two companies .of the Merida Battalions advanced in front, and of the ComManding Officer and soldiery of the battalions of Seville, and the - Portuguese brie gade. I have already noticed the, distinguished con dud .of Doi Carlos, and his battalion merits the highest encomiums, • I have nut yet been able to colle& the returns of our Ibss. From the nature of mountain warfare, many men are missing who cannot join for a day or two, but I believe the enemy will only_ have to boast: that he, has achieved his passage, and his killed a4id wounded will be a great diminution of his vi6torv. • I have the honour to be, &c. ROBERT WILSON, Sir A. Wellesley, &c.• &c. &c. 'fruxillo, Aug. 21, 18:9. General Cuesta moved his head-quarts :s friam the neighbourhood of the bridge of Arcobispo on the night of the 7th instant, to -Peraleca -de Garbin, .leaving an advanced 'guard, consisting of two divi sions of infantry,, and the Duke 'D'Alburquerque's division of cavalry, for the defence of the pas‘sage of the Tagus at this point. The French cavalry passed the Tagus at a ford immediately above the bridge, at halt past one in the afternoon of the Bth, and surprised this advanced guard, which retired, leaving behind them all their cannon, as well as those in the-batteries construeied: for the defence of the bridge. The General then moved his head - quarters to the IVleia-d'lbor on the evening of the Bth, having his advanced' 'guard at BOhural. He resigned the command of the army on the i 2th (on account of the bad state of his health), which has devolved upon' General Equia. Tie head-gitarteis 6f the Spanish army are now at Deleytosa. ' It appears that a detachment Of Vanegas's army had some success pgainst the enemy, in an attack made upon it in the . neighbourhood of Aranjuez, on the sth instant. Gerteral Vanegas was then at Ocana, and he bad determined to retire towards the Sierra Morena ; and after,the sth, he had . moVed in, that direction. He returned, however, towards Toledo, viah .an intention of attacking the enemy on the 12th, but on the 1 the enemy attacked him' with Sebastiani's corps, and two divisions of Victor's, in the heiehbouthood of Almoraind. The action appears to have lasted some hours, but the French having nt list gainesi an ~ -advantage on Ge neral Vanega,'s left, he was obliged:io'relire, and was about to resume his poshitM , in the Sierra Morena. On the gth, toth, and 't ith; large detachments of the French troops which bad come front Placencia, returned to that quarter, and' on tie 11111, they at tacked and defeated Sir Robert WilsOn , in the Puerto de Banos, on their return to Salamanea. It appears now that the French force in this part of Spain is distribut,ed as follows ; Marshal Vidtoes: corps is divided between. Talavera and La Mancha Sebastiani's is in La Mancha ;• Marshal Monier's at Oropesa, Arzobi , po, and Natialmoral ; Mar shal Souk's at. Plasencia; and' Marshal Ney's at Sala thanta. Distress for want of pros isions,and its effeas, have at last obliged me to move 'toWards.the Frontiers of Porttigal, in order to refresh . my troops. - In my for mer dispatches I have informed your Lordship of Our distress for the want uf provisions and the means of transport. • Those urns, 'which were the first Cat Lie of the loss of many advantages after the 22d of July, which was made known io the Government, and Was attually known to them on the 29th of last month, ,still. exist in an aggravated degree, and under these circualstances 'determined to break up on the 2(31111'froal JaraiCejo, • where I had had my hc6d-quarters , since the t ith:, vitth the advanced pests on the-Tagus near-the bridge of -Alrnarez, an I to 01 back upon the Frontier of fortrigal, I hope I shall be suOphed eery thip B want. Admiralty -Office ,Septeniter g, t sog. . _ Letters, of which the fothiwing are Copiei'br Al)) straets, have been received at this' office, from I,Ticc Admiral 'Lord Collinkwood, CoMmander in Chief of his Majesty's ships and vessels in the Mediterranea addressed to the IjonourAble William `~'ell~sl: Pole. Admiralty-Office, Sept. g, 180 g. A letter has been received at Vtis Odice by flys., Hon. William WelleEley Pole friYin Vic-Achn;: - ;if Lord Collingwood, dated on board the Ville de off Toulon, ,t he 21i! June last, transmitting two tors' from Captain Stewart, of his Majesty's ship ,'ll:*3* horse, and one from Captain Maxwell, of his M jesty's ship Alceste, daailing their . proceedio;--a,O the coast of Italy. Captain. Stewart reports the destruaion of the enemy's forts on ,ihe small Islands of Gianuti. ;in Piatiogo, in which services great gallantry appear- 1, have been displayed by the officers and men w:id were employed under the direaions - of Lieutenante Bennett and Pearse,of the Sea-horse and Halcyon. About one hundred of the enemy were rfiade sorters. One private marine of the Sea-horse only was killed,,and another wounded. . C'apt. Maxwcfl states the destruelion of two gun.: -boats at Terrarjna, by the Alceste and Cyane; the bringing oft Troal a depot of timber on the coast .14 much wood as the two ships could carry; and the dett;lition of three strong Martello towers by'a tachment of seamen and marines, commanded by Capt. Staines, of the Cyane, who displayed Nuol.. judgment and resolution on the occasion. Wilikt the ships were taking off the Aimber, a serjeant, t corporals, and twenty privates came on board, de. , serters from the French army. Lord Collingwood at the, same time corm - tun!. cotes an account he bad received from Captain can, of the Mercury, Of:tbe destrualion of a nuntb:x 'of Trabaccolos and . other vessels, on the beach. or Rotti, near Manfredouia, by the boats of that Sh:1:, Under Lletiteant Gordon. Vile de Paris, off Toulon, lune 23, I ec9 ! ' SIR, Inclosed I . transtnit you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of , the Admiearty, a letter . 1 have received from Captain . Raitt, Comnimder of his Majesty's sloop the Seout, giving an account of Ow boats of that sloop haVing carried an enemy's battoty near Cape Croisette, and captured and destr6'et sail of the enemy's coasters, which Iliad faker) shel:er under it. Captain Raitt speaks in high terms txf praise of,tile condu& of Lieut. Battersby, who commanded. th boats on this occasion, and of the officers and Inc !a" who accompanied him. I haVe the honour to be, &c. COLLIr.,ZGWOOD lion. W. W. Pole. MY LORD, kns Majesty's Sloop Scout o at Sea, June 14, 18.)9. I beg leave to inform your Lordship, that thii morning having observed a convoy of about:. four teen sail under. the prote&ion of two gun-bwrq, coming round Cape. Croisette, steering to heea;t ward, I'made all sail in Chace, but about one P. M. it falling nearly calm, and the convoy a gorid....de,il dispersed, I detached the boats, under the command of Lieutenant Battersby, martned by volunteers. Seven sail pushed for a harbour, about three leigites to the eastward of the Cape, where the boats pro ; ceeded under a heavy and well-direeled fire of grape and musketry. After landing a party to keep the enemy in check, who were numerous among the rocks, stormed and took poSsession of the battery, with two six-pounders mounted in erribraiure, Which, after spiking, brought out the whole, of . the vessels, although they were fast with ropes to .the mast-head and keels, and constantly annoyed with :musketry from behind the rocks. lam sorry to say this service has not been performed without son:e loss on our side, having one killed and five Wounded, two badly ; but front the time, and other great a:1- . vantages the enemy had, I hope your Lordship agree with mein thinking it compar'atively small. Theconduet 'of the whole of the officers, seamen, and marines employed on this occasion, deSertes the higheSt commendation ; but I wish to point out ija!'- licularly, that of Likitenaut Thitershy, the First Lieuenant,.that led..the -patty up to stortu the b..t tery. From his condu& on this occasion, and a great number of others that he has performed in' Streights of Gibraltar, I beg ,leave to teconimend him tb your Lordship. The eondutt of -Mr. •U:r , rant, Second Lieutenant, Mr. Batt - en, Master, , afal Mr, TheMpson, Master's Mitte, deserve my warrness thanks, for their . determined bravery to gokng ~the. , harbour with the boats under a heavy ti; of graps.and musketry from .both sides, who !Jaye:at all ti,i)s haildsoniely volunteered their bcrtices similar occasions. 7 ' :Files are laden With' Wool; - grain, le flout:, aid cheese ; two of thein I ha, e b ee i l to de , ,troy, after taking out their cirgoes, tine otheis I Katie sent to Mahon.' I beg leave to inclose a ibt of . killed . acidwoundbd. I have the honour to be, (Signed) W RA. ITT. The Right Hon. Lord Collingwocd, fze. A list of OffiCers and men killed and . , v aunded on boatd of his Majesty's sloop Scout. William haitt, E. t..:4lii mandcr, in cutting out .1,, French Convoy of it1et4.1:4,11 Vessels from under a Battery iear Cape Croisetie, CoJat of France, Meditserranean, upon the igth Pay of lune 1809. Kilied—John Marshland, landman. Wounded—John Wilson, boatswain. John Gage, - land man. Alexander Renny . ; landinan. Robert Evans, vo,uu. Leer, first class. Jeremiah Batter; Corporal a marines.— Total—i killed. 5 wounded. Admiralty-Office, Sept. 9, 1809. Vice-Admiral Lord Collingwi ) lod, has transmitted to the Honourable Wm. Wellesley Pole, another • letter from Captain Raitt of his Majesty's. sloop tae Scout, giving an account of a gallant attack filmic on the 15th July, by a party ot seamen and matinc,„ under the direaion of Lietn'enant 13attersby, 00 a strong battery, which comm Anded tile P rt ut between Marseilles and the ithone., The Vdvt carried withoot any lust on our side, and ;di the guns spiked ; five of the enemy were killed, and se ven matte prisoners. Ily,